100 greatest drum beats of all time

10th Nov 2010 | 12:00

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Da Doo Ron Ron - The Crystals

Who played it? Hal Blaine

In 2007 Rhythm Magazine took on the gruelling task of finding the perfect drum beat. And thanks to an expert judging panel made up of contributors, readers and all-star drummers (Chad Smith, Joey Jordison and Mike Portnoy, to name but three), they came up with a top 100.

A list of - not just great recordings - but one that we feel goes some way to demonstrating the importance of the humble drum beat in popular music.

But three years on, has anything (man, woman or machine) done enough to warrant a place since? Scroll through, rock out, reminisce and let us know in comments below. First up: Hal Blaine on The Crystals’ Da Doo Ron Ron…

Why it's great:

Hal Blaine has a whale of a time with this joyous, stomping pop boogie. The huge four-bar triplet fills that he plays between the verses and the choruses are crucial hooks in the arrangement....

Why it's great:

Listen:

Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes

Who played it? Meg White

Why it's great:

From 'Fell In Love With A Girl's flammed start to its crashed finish, Meg White stamps her trademark swagger all over this, as always not just playing for the song, but becoming an integral part of it.

Listen:

Highway To Hell - AC/DC

Who played it? Phil Rudd

Why it's great:

Rudd's economical, no-nonsense approach to drumming achieved spectacular results on the tune that turned out to be then-AC/DC frontman Bon Scott's swansong. Now that's what we call playing for the song…

Listen:

Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine

Who played it? Brad Wilk

Why it's great:

Brad Wilk's constant shifts in meter and dynamics are capped by the venomous freak-out that he plays in the 'Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me' section that kicks in at 4:12. This drum beat could be the official soundtrack to anarchy.

Listen:

Seven Days - Sting

Who played it? Vinnie Colaiuta

Why it's great:

This track is intelligent pop drumming defi ned. Vinnie Colaiuta makes odd time signatures groove more than we would have ever thought was possible with this fantastic virtuoso yet understated performance.

Listen:

Sad But True - Metallica

Who played it? Lars Ulrich

Why it's great:

Lars Ulrich plays with his usual formidable aggression on this prowling song from Metallica's renowned Black album, which sees him hammering out the backbeat while cleverly adding spice through his use of hi-hat phrasing and accented fills.

Listen:

Like I Love You - Justin Timberlake

Who played it? Pharrell Williams

Who played it?

Pharrell Williams's funk-era tribute snare snaps and pops it way through this track, his hi-hat accents drive it on, while his infectious looped bass drum pattern creates a propulsive syncopated undercurrent, resulting in a near-perfect pop tune.

Why it's great:

Listen:

Fools Gold - The Stone Roses

Who played it? Alan 'Reni' Wren

Why it's great:

A genius in a fly fishing hat who The Stone Roses acknowledged as their only natural musician, Reni could have walked the audition into any funk line-up. Instead, he threw his hand in with Manchester's finest, supplementing their 1989 high-water mark with loose-limbed off-beats, funky rim shots and seamless dynamic shifts. Still the only indie tune you can really dance to…

Listen:

Walking On The Moon - The Police

Who played it? Stewart Copeland

Why it's great:

In a radical break from rock drumming orthodoxy, Copeland demonstrates his creative powers to the max during a bravura percussion performance, almost as captivating as Sting's vocals on this atmospheric 1980 hit. Cross-sticking snare rhythms, a pulsating bass drum and ticking hi-hats create a sophisticated reggae revolution.

Why it's great:

Listen:

Come Together - The Beatles

Who played it? Ringo Starr

Why it's great:

Rising above John Lennon's jibe that he "wasn't even the best drummer in The Beatles", Ringo Starr chose this Abbey Road highlight to break out with a barrage of swampy rolls. A generation of aspirant drummers duly came together…

Listen:

Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream

Who played it? Ginger Baker

Why it's great:

Mr Baker threw his rhythmic impulses into reverse on Cream's biggest hit, when he emphasised the onbeat and unleashed those Red Indian-style war drums. From a stomping introduction Ginger set a terrific pace, locking together with guitar and bass, emphasising the vital role of drums in any truly creative group setting.

Listen:

Lust For Life - Iggy Pop

Who played it? Hunt Sales

Why it's great:

Thanks to Ewan McGregor racing to avoid the fuzz in Trainspotting, everyone knows how gripping this song's drum intro is. A barrage of toms and big, reverb-laden snare, 'Lust For Life' sounds like '50s rock'n'roll injected with speed and run through the '70s punk blender.

Listen:

We Will Rock You - Queen

Who played it? Roger Taylor

Why it's great:

By multitracking huge kick-drums and hand claps, Queen created a football-terrace anthem that has penetrated all musical genres. Chad Smith played it live; Ice Cube sampled it; and Queen themselves used to perform a bizarre, 'punk' version – which lacked the balls of the original by a long shot.

Listen:

Blue Monday - New Order

Who played it? An Oberheim DMX drum machine

Why it's great:

Unless you're Dave Lombardo or Gene Hoglan, you won't be able to play the warp-speed kick-drum riff that opens 'Blue Monday', so don't try. And even if you could, you'd never achieve the super-gated sound and separation achieved by Mr Oberheim on this classic track, which brought synthpop to the masses.

Why it's great:

Listen:

Raining Blood - Slayer

Who played it? Dave Lombardo

Why it's great:

Tracks like this earned Lombardo his reputation as king of thrash metal double bass drums. But there's more to Dave than athletic footwork. 'Raining Blood' sees him punctuate the sinister, intertwining harmony guitar intro with canon-like accents and, when the track kicks, he strikes a balance between heaviness and groovaciousness.

Listen:

Cold Sweat - James Brown

Who played it? Clyde Stubblefield

Why it's great:

The song that started funk, 'Cold Sweat' would be nothing without Stubblefield's drums holding the tune together. The entire band follows his rhythm, effectively playing the melody line as percussion. "Give the drummer some!" shouts Brown, prompting Stubblefield to break it down, which he does without ever dropping the groove.

Why it's great:

Listen:

Smells like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Who played it? Dave Grohl

Why it's great:

A childhood spent pounding pillows with marching batons in his bedroom finally paid off for Grohl in 1991, when the drummer announced his arrival into our lives with a vicious bass and snare intro that dragged 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' along by its hair. Respect to the Foos, but they've never thrilled us like Grohl's debut behind the kit…

Listen:

Sing, Sing, Sing - The Benny Goodman Orchestra

Who played it? Gene Krupa

Why it's great:

The definitive sound of the swing era, 'Sing, Sing, Sing' features the fi rst extended drum break in recorded music. Gene Krupa pounds out the unmistakeable beat on his floor tom in a frenzy of pure joy. 'Sing, Sing, Sing' was a smash hit and made Krupa the first superstar drummer.

Listen:

Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

Who played it? Keith Moon

Why it's great:

There's just something so right about the unison of guitar power chords and Moonie's crashing stabs of noise in 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. It still sounds fresh and tingles the spine today. From the driving verse backbeats to clattering fi lls when the vocals leave space, this is Moon at his most energetic.

Listen:

Back In Black - AC/DC

Who played it? Phil Rudd

Why it's great:

The undisputed master of the backbeat, Phil Rudd never played a note that wasn't absolutely essential. His style is based around locking the drums in with the guitars to create a sound that is incredibly heavy but always musical. 'Back In Black' showcases Rudd's power and economy of expression.

Listen:

Take Five - Dave Brubeck

Who played it? Joe Morello

Why it's great:

The simple insistence of 'Take Five' helped bring jazz to the masses in the late '50s – it was all over US radio at a time when rock'n'roll was taking hold. Joe Morello is criminally overlooked as a drummer, but his economy and swing here put him firmly on the map.

Listen:

Cissy Strut - The Meters

Who played it? Zigaboo Modeliste

Why it's great:

Cissy Strut captures the essence of New Orleans funk with Ziggy's irresistible syncopation and patented second-line rhythms, emphasising the last half-beat of the bar. Inspired by the marching jazz bands of the city that played in funeral processions, Ziggy's drumming is guaranteed to make people move their feet.

Listen:

When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin

Who played it? John Bonham

Why it's great:

It's a combination of astonishing, visceral performance and incredible sound. The foot-of-the stairwell placement of Bonzo's kit gives the drums that unmatched depth – and you can feel the compressors straining under the force of his devastating right foot in particular. The blues never sounded more badass – and samplers across the world are forever grateful.

Listen:

The Funky Drummer Parts 1 & 2 - James Brown

Who played it? Clyde Stubblefield

Why it's great:

"I want everyone to lay out and let the drummer go!" Thus James Brown sings to his faithful drummer who unleashes one of the most sampled beats of all time. Deceptively laidback, Clyde's innovative hi-hat, bass and snare drum patterns from 1969 set a pattern for funk for decades to come.